Features of the organization of medical rehabilitation at the present stage

The development of rehabilitation at the present stage is one of the priorities in the field of health and social development. Not only medical organizations, but also other organizations can take part in carrying out medical rehabilitation activities. A prerequisite for the implementation of rehabilitation activities is the availability of a license for medical activity with an indication of medical rehabilitation work. Of great concern is the issue of staffing of medical organizations, especially primary care, by such specialists as a doctor of physical and rehabilitation medicine, a doctor of medical rehabilitation, a medical speech therapist, an ergorehabilitation specialist, etc. In the absence of these specialists in medical organizations, it is impossible to form interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams, and in their absence, the solution of medical rehabilitation issues is questionable. The article contains an analysis of the current legal framework for medical rehabilitation. The stages of medical rehabilitation in medical organizations are reflected in accordance with the scale of rehabilitation routing. Four groups of medical organizations carrying out medical rehabilitation have been identified. The shortcomings of the current legal framework for medical rehabilitation are indicated, since a comprehensive rehabilitation system is currently being formed in the Russian Federation. For its successful development and implementation in the practical activities of medical organizations and social institutions, a regulatory and legal framework is being developed and improved. The approved Procedure for the organization of medical rehabilitation will allow to systematize and organize this work at a qualitatively new level.

Feasibility of a home-based interdisciplinary rehabilitation program for patients with Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: the REACH study

Background Survivors of critical illness experience long-term functional challenges, which are complex, heterogeneous, and multifactorial in nature. Although the importance of rehabilitation interventions after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge is universally recognized, evidence on feasibility and effectiveness of home-based rehabilitation programs is scarce and ambiguous. This study investigates the feasibility of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program designed for patients with Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) who are discharged home. Methods A mixed method, non-randomized, prospective pilot feasibility study was performed with a 6-month follow-up, comparing the intervention (REACH) with usual care. REACH was provided by trained professionals and included a patient-centered, interdisciplinary approach starting directly after hospital discharge. Primary outcomes were patient safety, satisfaction, adherence, referral need and health care usage. Secondary outcomes, measured at 3 timepoints, were functional exercise capacity, self-perceived health status, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), return to work and psychotrauma. Risk of undernutrition was assessed at baseline. Results 43 patients with a median mechanical ventilation duration of 8 (IQR:10) days, were included in the study and 79.1% completed 6-month follow-up. 19 patients received the intervention, 23 received usual care. Groups were similar for gender distribution and ICU length of stay. No adverse events occurred. REACH participants showed higher satisfaction with treatment and reported more allied health professional visits, while the usual care group reported more visits to medical specialists. Qualitative analysis identified positive experiences among REACH-professionals related to providing state-of-the-art interventions and sharing knowledge and expertise within an interprofessional network. Similar recovery was seen between groups on all secondary outcomes, but neither group reached reference values for HRQoL at 6 months. Larger return to work rates were seen in the REACH group. Prevalence of undernutrition at hospital discharge was high in both groups (> 80%), warranting the need for careful tuning of physical therapy and nutritional interventions. Conclusions This study shows that providing early, home-based rehabilitation interventions for patients with PICS-related symptoms is feasible and perceived positively by patients and professionals. When provided in an interdisciplinary collaborative network state of the art, person-centered interventions can be tailored to individual needs potentially increasing patient satisfaction, adherence, and efficacy. Registered in the Dutch Trial register: NL7792: https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7792, registered 7-06-2019.

Rehabilitation of intubated COVID-19 patients in a Singapore regional hospital with early intensive care unit and sustained post-intensive care unit rehabilitation

Background A proportion of patients with COVID-19 become critically ill, but few studies describe the functional outcomes and rehabilitation process of these patients. Objective To describe the complications encountered and functional outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring intubation and subsequent intensive care unit (ICU) management and rehabilitation. Methods Retrospective case note review was conducted on all patients requiring intubation and ICU admission and subsequently discharged from our hospital from February 15, 2020 to May 1, 2020. Demographics, preexisting medical conditions, complications encountered in ICU, ICU and General Ward Length of Stay, number of therapy sessions delivered, nutritional data, and functional outcomes on discharge were collected from electronic medical records and entered in a deidentified database. Results Most patients developed significant breathlessness affecting post-ICU rehabilitation, a few patients developed ICU associated delirium while no patient developed ICU-associated weakness. All patients survived and could walk 20 m within 12 days post-extubation. Conclusion Early ICU and sustained post-ICU rehabilitation of critically ill, intubated COVID-19 patients is feasible. Further studies could look into the outcomes of this group of patients, in particular the effect of nutrition and pulmonary training on functional outcomes. We strongly recommend an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team approach in managing critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Organization of Multilevel Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation in the Netherlands

This article gives an overview of medical rehabilitation in the Netherlands. It shows that Dutch rehabilitation is based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and organized in three different levels: rehabilitation medicine, geriatric rehabilitation, and monodisciplinary therapy. The author describes these three levels in their distinctive scopes and numbers. Together they operate as a coherent rehabilitation service system that reflects an important characteristic of the system of health care in the Netherlands: decentralized if possible and centralized if necessary. The system is accessible for all and it is organized in a way that simple medical problems can be dealt with close to home, whereas specialized treatment is concentrated in rehabilitation centers spread over the country. The rehabilitation facilities are embedded in the general health care system: it is easy for hospitals as well as general practitioners to refer patients to rehabilitation. In conclusion, the possibilities of further improving the system of medical rehabilitation and the application of Dutch experience in other countries are considered.

Experiences of community-dwelling older people with dementia participating in a person-centred multidimensional interdisciplinary rehabilitation program

Background There is great need for development of feasible rehabilitation for older people with dementia. Increased understanding of this population’s experiences of rehabilitation participation is therefore important. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of community-dwelling older people with dementia participating in a person-centred multidimensional interdisciplinary rehabilitation program. Methods Sixteen older people with dementia were interviewed about their experiences of participation in a person-centred multidimensional interdisciplinary rehabilitation program. The program comprised assessments by a comprehensive team of rehabilitation professionals followed by a rehabilitation period of 16 weeks, including interventions based on individualized rehabilitation goals conducted with the support of the rehabilitation team. The rehabilitation was performed in the participants’ homes, in the community and at an outpatient clinic, including exercise with social interaction in small groups offered twice a week to all participants. The interviews were conducted at the end of the rehabilitation period and analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in one overarching theme: Empowered through participation and togetherness and four sub-themes: Being strengthened through challenges; Gaining insights, motives, and raising concerns about the future; Being seen makes participation worthwhile; and Feelings of togetherness in prosperity and adversity. The participants increased their self-esteem by daring and coping in the rehabilitation. The insights about themselves and their condition motivated them to continue with their prioritized activities, but also raised concerns about how the future would play out. Collaboration in the group and being seen and acknowledged by staff strengthened their own motivation and self-efficacy. Conclusion According to community-dwelling older people with dementia, a person-centred multidimensional interdisciplinary rehabilitation program was experienced as viable and beneficial. The participants seemed empowered through the rehabilitation and expressed mostly positive experiences and perceived improvements. Providers of interdisciplinary rehabilitation programs for this group should consider aspects raised by the participants e.g. the positive experience of being challenged in both exercise and daily activities; the importance of being seen and feeling secure; the benefits and challenges of collaboration with others in the same situation; and the generation of new perspectives of current and future situation.

Osteopathic manipulative medicine in the management of headaches associated with postconcussion syndrome

Context Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for various headache types, with limited evidence of its use for headaches related to mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). No studies prior studies were found regarding OMT for headaches in patients with postconcussion syndrome (PCS), defined as symptom persistence for longer than 3 months after MTBI. Objectives To evaluate OMT for headaches in patients with PCS. Methods A controlled pilot study was conducted of patients with PCS who presented to an outpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation clinic; patients with symptoms lasting longer than 3 months were enrolled and randomly assigned to an OMT treatment group or a control group. Primary outcome measures were immediate change in headache scores according to a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and change in the six item Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) between baseline and follow up visits. The participants in the control group completed the HIT-6 between baseline and follow up visits but did not receive OMT and did not complete the VAS. Mean immediate VAS score change for the treatment group and mean improvement in HIT-6 scores for both groups between baseline and follow up were analyzed for statistical significance. Results A total of 26 patients were included in this study: 13 (50%) in the treatment group and 13 (50%) in the control group. Six patients (23.1%), three from each group, did not complete the study, so 10 subjects in each group were included in the final analysis. Statistically significant improvement in VAS scores was seen immediately after OMT in the treatment group (mean change, 2.1;p=0.002). Mean HIT-6 scores showed improvement in the treatment group compared with the control group, although the change was not statistically significant (p=0.15) from baseline to follow up visit. No adverse effects from treatments were noted. Conclusions Patients with headaches secondary to PCS showed immediate benefit in headache pain intensity after OMT. However, no sustained benefit was found on the follow up visit compared with the control group.